CCTV arrest claims 'groundless'

The officer punches Ms Comer five times in the incident

A woman who was seen being punched by a police officer in CCTV footage has said she is disappointed after it was confirmed he will not face charges.

Leaked footage showed Pc Anthony Mulhall forcibly restraining Toni Comer, 20, after she was ejected from a Sheffield nightclub in July 2006.

He was withdrawn from public duty but has now returned to work.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said Ms Comer's allegations were "unsubstantiated".

The IPCC said that during the course of its investigation, statements were taken from people who had been in the car park during the incident.

'Public outrage'

Investigators had also viewed CCTV footage and consulted with experts in police arrest techniques.

Peter Mahy, Ms Comer's solicitor, said she was disappointed with the decision.

The 'unsubstantiated' allegations Ms Comer was assaulted by Pc Anthony Mulhall and another officer Other officers present failed to prevent her being assaulted Officers breached Codes of Conduct by failing to protect Ms Comer's modesty when her trousers fell down as she was being taken to a police van The review of her detention in custody was conducted outside the required timescale

He said: "This means that Ms Comer's complaint will never be heard in public.

"This case resulted in public outrage when the CCTV evidence was released and the IPCC's decision is bound to fuel further public concern about the police's use of force and whether the amount of force used in this case was lawful."

The CCTV footage, obtained by the Guardian newspaper, shows Ms Comer and a police officer falling down a flight of stairs outside Sheffield's Niche nightclub.

Police had been called when Ms Comer vandalised a car after being thrown out of the club.

'Justified force'

At the bottom of the stairs, she is restrained by officers, with the officer she fell with punching her five times. It is not clear where he punched her.

The footage shows Ms Comer, from Sheffield, writhing around on the ground, which she said was due to an epileptic fit. Police said she was trying to resist arrest.

She was dragged to a police van with her trousers around her knees.

Ms Comer later admitted a charge of criminal damage to a car.

Nicholas Long, IPCC commissioner for Yorkshire and Humberside, said: "Police officers are entitled by law to use justified and proportionate force to arrest someone who is being aggressive and actively resisting arrest. I am confident from all the evidence accumulated this is what happened in this instance."

Mr Long added: "I must stress that no complaint of racism was made by Ms Comer or her family. Our independent investigation found no evidence that Ms Comer was treated any differently due her ethnicity."

South Yorkshire's Deputy Chief Constable Bob Dyson welcomed the decision.

He said: "Officers deal with difficult and dangerous situations every day and this incident shows just how difficult their jobs can be."